Throughout its history, Glen Rock has placed a very high value on education. In fact, it is the foundation on which the borough was built. When the state of New Jersey mandated consolidation of school districts in the late 1800s, the one-room school house at the corner of Ackerman Avenue and Rock Road was to be closed. Students living in what was then Ridgewood Township School District No. 44 would have been displaced to a facility much further away. Local activists, concerned about the impact this would have on the education of their children, went door to door with a petition to create their own school district. The area now known as Glen Rock was established in September, 1894.
Today, Glen Rock Public Schools serve 2,562 students in grades pre-K through 12 in four elementary schools - Richard E. Byrd, Central, Clara E. Coleman and Alexander Hamilton - plus Glen Rock Middle School and Glen Rock High School. Glen Rock is recognized among the high-achieving school districts in New Jersey.
Glen Rock Public Schools provide all students an exceptional education and opportunity for personal development through a comprehensive and rigorous curriculum. Academics are balanced with a nationally recognized arts program, as well as highly competitive athletic programs and a broad spectrum of extracurricular activities to foster productive and responsible members of the global society.
The district continues to distinguish itself in the areas of academic achievement, early childhood literacy, and the integration of technology into our curriculum. The Office of Curriculum and Instruction has established partnerships for dual enrollment – through which high school students can earn college credit - with Bergen Community College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Seton Hall University and Syracuse University. Students throughout the district benefit from our nationally recognized STEEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship and Mathematics) program. The ELL (English Language Learners) Program addresses the needs of our non-English and limited-English speaking students with courses that concentrate first on basic English language skills and then on English language literacy skills necessary for academic success.
Our fully staffed Child Study Team works cooperatively with families to determine the most effective combination of programs and services beginning as early as pre-kindergarten. Highly trained reading specialists are available in every elementary school to work with classroom teachers to evaluate and provide support to students. An elementary/middle Gifted and Talented Program provides eligible students with acceleration and enrichment learning opportunities.
Glen Rock’s history of community involvement and support is still evident today, as the Glen Rock Board of Education, Glen Rock Public Schools administration, and district staff are joined by parents and all residents to assist our students in becoming resilient, responsible and engaged global citizens.